When VVMF built The Wall in 1982, it had an important mission: To honor Vietnam Veterans and heal the wounds of a nation. Three decades later, the mission continues as we raise funds to build the Education Center at The Wall. The Education Center will educate future generations and honor America's Legacy of Service, including those serving in our nation's Armed Forces today.

Are you sure you would like to flag this message as inappropriate?

I wore your bracelet.

Posted on 1/26/15 - by Deborah Dooley Ferguson ddferguson52@yahoo.com

I remember this picture. Your mother sent it to me after I corresponded with her upon receiving my POW-MIA bracelet with your name. I can't describe the effect it had on me to wear it. I prayed for you daily as I touched your name. I felt your spirit and thought you to be alive. This is the first information I have found regarding your status in all these years. I had misplaced your mother's letter but, so wished I could write her to see if there was any news. Wherever you are please know I cared deeply and never forgot about you. Thank you for your service to the USA!

Are you sure you would like to flag this message as inappropriate?

Capt Robert DiTommaso

Posted on 1/20/15 - by Navy Vet

I received Capt DiTomasso's POW/MIA bracelet when I was in high school, with the understanding that it should continue to be worn until he or his remains were found. I wore the bracelet through my time in school, through my own US Navy service in Vietnam and still wear it to this day. Capt DiTommaso, you are not forgotten. Some gave all...all gave some.

Are you sure you would like to flag this message as inappropriate?

Capt. Robert DiTommaso

Posted on 11/12/14 - by Daniel Senko becky1949@att.net

Today is the day after Veterans Day, and I wanted to let the family know that I appreciate his service for our country. I wore his bracelet in college as a rememberance and was told that I should return the bracelet to his family if there was no word of him being found.

Are you sure you would like to flag this message as inappropriate?

Final Mission of 1LT Robert J. Di Tommaso

Posted on 6/10/14 - by wkillian@smjuhsd.org

On July 29, 1966, an RC-47D aircraft departed Udorn Airfield in Thailand en route to Sam Neua, Laos. The crew abord the aircraft included pilot CAPT Robert E. Hoskinson and crewmen MAJ Galileo F. Bossio, 1LT Vincent A. Chiarello, CAPT Bernard Conklin, 1LT Robert J. Di Tommaso, SSGT James S. Hall, TSGT John M. Mamiya and TSGT Herbert E. Smith. The aircraft was an unarmed Command and Control airship (Dogpatch 2). When the aircraft was 10-20 miles south of Sam Neua, it was attacked by enemy fighters. Radio contact was lost and the families were initially told there was no further word of the plane or crew - that they had all been lost on an operational mission in North Vietnam. It was later learned, however, that at least one, possibly two parachutes were observed in the air from persons on the ground, and the loss had occurred not in North Vietnam, but at 201200N 1041700E, which is in Laos. Primary objective of the C-47 in Laos at that point in the war was visual reconnaissance. American forces worked closely with CAS (CIA) primarily to weaken the communist supply link to South Vietnam via the "Ho Chi Minh Trail". This particular plane, however, was working in support of the CIA's secret indigenous army which was attempting to prevent a communist takeover in Laos. The crewmembers on these missions were normally highly trained in electronic surveillance techniques as well as versed in codes and languages. Accordingly, and as "there was no war in Laos", certain details of the mission, such as the precise location of loss, were originally distorted. Later reports indicate that some of the crew survived the attack on July 29, 1966. According to a March, 1974 list published by the National League of Families of POW/MIAs, Bossio survived the incident and was missing in Laos. One 1971 report states that as many as 5 of the crew were captured. Chiarello and Di Tommaso were identified as survivors by Capt. Adair of Project Dogpatch. U.S. Air Force records still reflect the loss as having occurred in North Vietnam. In 1988, the remains of Conklin, Chiarello, Hall, Mamiya and Smith were returned to U.S. control. They were positively identified and returned to their families for burial. [Narrative taken from pownetwork.org; image from wikipedia.org]

Are you sure you would like to flag this message as inappropriate?

Remembering An American Hero

Posted on 7/28/13 - by Curt Carter

Dear LTC Robert Joseph Di Tommaso, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

Are you sure you would like to flag this message as inappropriate?

My Uncle Bob

Posted on 11/14/10 - by Gene DiTommaso gditomma@yahoo.com

I recently saw a picture of my uncle on display at the Buffalo Naval Park. This made me think of him and my grandmother who spent many years searching & wondering. I was very young when Uncle Bob's plane was shot down but I still have fond memories. May his sacrifice never be forgotten.

Are you sure you would like to flag this message as inappropriate?

Not Forgotten

Posted on 2/14/03 - by Candace Lokey

I have not forgotten you. I chair the Adoption Committee for The National League of Families of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action in Southeast Asia. We will always remember the 1,889 Americans still unaccounted for in Southeast Asia and the thousands of others that lost their lives. We will not stop our efforts until all of you are home where you belong.

We need to reach the next generation so that they will carry on when our generation is no longer able. To do so, we are attempting to locate photographs of all the missing. If you are reading this remembrance and have a photo and/or memory of this missing American that you would like to share for our project, please contact me at:

Candace Lokey PO Box 206 Freeport, PA 16229 mlokey@aol.com

If you are not familiar with our organization, please visit our web site at :

Are you sure you would like to flag this message as inappropriate?

If I should die...remembrances for LTCOL. Robert Joseph DI TOMMASO, USAF...who died so we can live!!

Posted on 6/21/02

If I should die, and leave you here awhile, be not like others, sore undone, who keep long vigils by the silent dust, and weep...for MY sake, turn again to life, and smile...Nerving thy heart, and trembling hand to do something to comfort other hearts than thine...Complete these dear, unfinished tasks of mine...and I, perchance, may therein comfort you.

Are you sure you would like to flag this message as inappropriate?

POW/Mia Bracelet

Posted on 5/17/02 - by Hannah Stryker

I am 14 years old and just recently I uncovered my mom's old things and found her POW/MIA bracelet. It is broken in two but when I put it together I immediatly took an interest in the man on the bracelet and now that I am going to the VVM for school, I think that to settle old souls, I will take a name rubbing. Where ever Robert Di Tommaso is, I pray that God blesses him.-Hannah

The Wall of Faces

Brought to you by the organization that built The Wall, the Vietnam Veterans Virtual Memorial Wall is dedicated to honoring, remembering and sharing the legacies of all those who died in the Vietnam War. Here you can go beyond the names on The Wall to see the faces, share the stories and read the remembrances posted by friends, neighbors, classmates and family members.

All of these photos will be showcased in The Education Center at The Wall on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. To learn more about the effort to collect these photos and ensure their faces will never be forgotten, visit www.buildthecenter.org.